Saturday, September 24, 2011

A Trip to the ER

For 43 years DH's response to "Don't you think you should go to the doctor??" has always been an irritable, "No, I don't need to go to the doctor!" So when he was in bed groaning that he had hurt his back, hip, and leg while using the shovel to dig a hole to plant a tree, I was surprised that he answered in the affirmative that he indeed did need to see the doctor. At 9am I made the appointment with the doctor for 3pm--6 hours to wait. But at 11am he was in such pain that I suggested I take him in to the ER and he agreed. He has never been in an ER in his 64 years. I had to dress him and get his shoes on as he couldn't bend to put them on himself. He was able to slowly hobble out to the van and off we went. They took him right in to an exam room and the ER doctor examined and questioned him carefully. He determined that it was a nerve injury at the ileo-sacral joint. 60mg injection of Toradol, 5mg oral Valium and waited 30 minutes--some relief. 4mg injection of morphine--much relief. I dropped the prescriptions off at the pharmacy on the way home, got him settled in the recliner, and went back for the prescription Naproxen, Valium, and Tylenol #3 and a new ice bag for his back. By the time I got back, he was feeling much better and was very mellow from the Valium. I made scrambled eggs and toast for dinner, got him in bed, cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, and collapsed into bed myself. Today he has some numbness and tenderness in his right leg, but he is able to move slowly without pain.

We are both aware that the situation would have been much different if we were one of the 1 in 4 Texans without health insurance. At least the president and the Democrats are trying to get health care for everyone. Thanks a lot Republicans, I'll remember you at the polls.

Yes, we all need health insurance. But because of Obamacare, I couldn't afford mine anymore because of the new increase. I had to get the new high deductible plan, that covers basic maintenance visits 100% but if either one of us hurt our back, we'd both have to pay $1200 each before the new insurance kicked in. Plus higher co-pays. Ouch.

Luckily, you went to the ER, which whether you have insurance or not, would have given you the same exact care. So, that's a very good thing.

I can't afford our RX plan anymore either. But thanks to the great programs at Wal Mart, CVS or Walgreens, I can get some prescriptions filled for only $4 (four dollars!)

I don't know what to think anymore. Obama's plan sounds great on paper but the added costs to our wallets hurts. So, I don't know what to say, what to do, how to feel or react. I'm just happy your husband is well and on the mend.

Same with my husband. If his accident had happened at home, I shudder to think what would have happened to us financially. Who would have thought?

Morrison, you are very mis informed about the President's health insurance program for all Americans. Health insurance costs right now, very little other than allowing children to remain on their parents policy until age 26 and not allowing insurance companies to exclude children with pre-existing conditions to be excluded has actually gone into effect. Price increases are coming from the insurance industry. Our insurance pays for the insurance companies executive pay, bonuses, jets, buildings and we actually pay them to booglee us with paperwork and see how difficult they can make it for us. The vast majority of the new health insurance reform package goes into effect in 2014.

DH is up and about albeit more slowly and carefully. His has some weakness in the right leg. Follow up with MD on Thursday. Again we are thankful that we have health insurance and wish that everyone did.

I would also like to add that while he would have been seen and treated at the ER even if we had not had insurance, we would have been billed for it and had to pay the entire amount ourselves. We have insurance, those without are billed. This puts a double whammy on the poor. Medical debt is one of the three leading causes of bankruptcy in America today.

Florence,All I know is that our insurance company sent us a letter, specifically detailing that the president's new plan caused our insurance rates to go up 17% as of the 1st of the year. They also made clear that it was the insurance rates not the medical rates. They said the medical rates were going to go up also but they didn't have an amount yet. Looks like a double whammy to me. Somebody has to pay for the 26 yr olds being added and it's not just the corresponding parents We all got hit with an increase. We all are paying for the added children, the non-existing preclusions and all the free birth control pills and free women's care. As I said, Obamacare sounds wonderful on paper. But somebody has to pay for it. Perhaps as my husband and I become poorer and poorer, we too will qualify for the free health care.

If we are indeed paying for corporate jets and all those other things, weren't we paying for that before Obamacare? What's the difference? Why would we be paying more if the corporate CEO's are still on those jets? What changed? What made our rates go up?

You can believe the insurance company if you want to. The fact is that they have everything to gain by keeping the money flowing into their coffers and everything to lose if health care reform is allowed to actually provide for everyone. They want to take in as much money as they can as long as they can get by with it. Frankly, I would be proud to have my name in front of health care reform; I think that wanting all my fellow citizens to be able to see a doctor or nurse when they needed to is admirable. Three cheers for Florencecare!!

Florence,Here's a recent article in today's paper. I think it addresses everything we both discussed. For whatever reasons, White House, Obama or just plain insurance greed, insurance is up, higher than what it was in 2005 and as always, employers are passing the costs onto the workers. The new higher deductible plan is in place (that's what we now have) pushing the burden more on the person.

Heslth care costs are increasing whatever the cause. On that we can certainly agree. We also can agree that it is of utmost importance to maintain our own good health--eating good food, healthful exercise, and maintaining our mental health. Because in the end, no one else is responsible for us except ourselves.